Nighma: Yo, everyone! Thank you so much for the support of this fic! Some of your reviews totally threw me into a blushing fit! I said on my profile that it would take at least five months to upload the continuation of this story, and before I upload the actual chapter one for it, this chapter is a teaser for the continuation.

I had originally intended for this to be in the continuation, but…as ideas kept coming to me and I began writing and typing like a maniac high on tea and apple juice, I couldn't find a place for it…which made me sad. Very, very sad. But because I love it so much, I decided to keep it as a teaser, which made me happy again~! Enjoy, and thank you all again! The continuation of Echo and last story in the first half of the Echo Series is coming, soon!

Title comes from the merging of coup d'état with the phrase "atta-boy". So you'd pronounce it "Coo-day-tatta-boy"~

December 2011 Update: Echough [Remix] is up on my profile~!

Hidden Track: Coup d'état'atta Boy

"Ichigo!"

He stared at the break of building and sky, noticing immediately that the last remnants of blue were quickly replaced with grey as the sky became darker. The news slowly settled in, causing a deep crease to form between his brows. Upon taking notice of white and black out of the corner of his eye, he sat up from his laying position and faced them.

Zangetsu, in his usual position, and Shirōgetsu, who crouched beside him, were watching him carefully. Though in the deep ebon-silver pools of the Hollow, there was very apparent anger. "Get rid of your Hollow," he repeated with a snarl, as if challenging Ichigo to rebuke what was said. "Relinquish their Hollows. Orders."

Ichigo only looked at him calmly before lifting a leg up and resting his arm on his knee, looking away. Back in his inner world after a few days and look at the greeting. So typical. "Not going to happen."

"Why not, eh, King?" Shirōgetsu asked with a sneer.

Glancing at him, Ichigo sighed softly. "You know why. I haven't told anyone else about what's going on. It's only natural they'd think I'm probably going to stay a Vizard longer than I actually am…"

"And if you explain?" Zangetsu asked.

"…Rukia and Renji would probably let it go," Ichigo said softly, standing up to look at his slowly disintegrating world. Even though he wasn't having an episode, the world seemed to slightly shudder and quake. He hated it.

"An' th' 46 Chambers?" Shirōgetsu asked, narrowing his eyes. "They'll probably want you t'get rid of me anyways."

Ichigo made a small scoff, turning and beginning to walk towards them. "Words like those are the reason why I'm the one in charge, here. Zangetsu," he said, "what do you think?"

The zanpakutō spirit closed his eyes. "It's nothing we haven't dealt with before," he murmured calmly. "I wish to protect you, Ichigo. Shirōgetsu is a part of you."

Satisfied with that response, Ichigo grinned upon seeing the Hollow's surprised expression directed at the older-looking spirit. "You see, Shirō," he explained, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, "Zangetsu and I rather enjoy your company. Whatever reason caused your existence, you are a part of me, now, and you know how I am about people ordering me around. I'll damn well go down fighting to protect you, idiot."

Shirōgetsu cocked an eyebrow, looking slightly amused. "A part of you, eh? An' what about what you've done, for that matter?"

Catching the taunting undertone in his voice, Ichigo's grin widened. His expression then dropped and he slanted his eyes before muttering, "I'll never be able to undo what I did to you, and Zangetsu, too, Shirō…" His gaze suddenly moved vaguely towards the ground, as if in deep thought. "But this is just…"

He slid his arm from Shirōgetsu's shoulders and focused his attention to all and nothing in general, eyes scanning the fading, sideways buildings in deep thought. Was this the threat Shirōgetsu, his instincts, had felt so strongly? Thinking about it now that the threat was no mere possibility, but reality, his own sense of dread began to invade his mind, effectively causing the last of the blue heavens to become a darker shade of grey. The once white clouds floating to his side became infused with his worry, darkening, appearing prone to produce rain…Was he…truly in danger? And from Shinigami of all people?

"…Gettin' ahead of yourself, eh, King?" a warbling, taunting voice murmured behind him, close behind him. "…I dowanna get wet…"

Hearing him, but not really registering what he said, Ichigo closed his eyes. This was an entirely new thought, and emotion, that passed through him. He couldn't pinpoint it…but it nestled itself between fear and fierce determination, as if his life well depended on it, he figured. Opening his eyes just enough to be slants, he sat on the building before closing his eyes again. He just faintly heard movement behind him as well, but didn't pay much attention. He then focused on the feeling, as if dissecting it, trying to rationalize his thought process and focus…

As he did, he also subconsciously, or maybe not so subconscious, reached out to his split and part of his soul. It was comforting to feel them and he relaxed his shoulders he was never aware were tense. He then began to think.

He was losing his powers, and fast. He deduced that before the end of the month, he'd be human again, if not sooner. The thought was…frightening. And seriously? These same guys who were the cause for Hitsugaya's past misery and the same people no one would dare to question or oppose wanted, no doubt, him and the other Vizards to just give up a part of themselves or find themselves on a hit list? Ichigo didn't know about the other Vizards, but that shit wasn't happening to him. Not as long as he had even a little power to do something about it.

Just before he could enter a serious mental rage, willowy white arms in white sleeves wrapped around his chest, a body pressed against his back. Just slightly turning his head to the side, surprised, he took notice of Zangetsu's presence closer to him as well. A small smile then appeared on his face as he looked up to the sky and opened his eyes. "…I know…" he murmured in affirmative to his soul's silent messages. And the feeling finally became clear to him, though it came more as an echo within him.

Survival.

He knew what he was up against. There was no way in hell he was going to rip a part of him from his being, regardless of what it was, and he didn't even want to know how. So what if he was a Vizard; it wasn't as if he was in danger or a threat. The Vizards themselves were proof of such. There was no way he was going to let them take Shirōgetsu from him, whether by force or coercion. No, he didn't even want to think of coercion. He was dismayed by the very idea, that he would somehow want a part of him to disappear. Why he wanted that, once upon a time, was something he tried very, very hard not to think about.

Knowing what he knew now, he was severely disappointed and disheartened by the actions and decisions he made when he was just months younger…

Cool fingers brushed through his hair comfortingly. Slanting his eyes, he watched as the sky turned to a lighter gray color…and didn't look as if it would be turning back to blue anytime soon. He sighed to himself. No, it probably wouldn't. He would be high on alert, now, cautious and ready. There had to be some way out of this…

"…Shirō," he muttered.

The Hollow simply held him a little closer and rested his head against Ichigo's back. At this reaction, Ichigo frowned. This was the first time he'd ever experienced such a strong yet passive response from him and it was a bit distressing. He wondered what was on his mind…

"I've…I should go," he sighed quietly, truly not wanting to leave. Who knew when he might be able to come back? "They're calling me."

Quiet for only a second, the Hollow grinned, raising his head. "You'll come if I call, won'cha?" he asked lightheartedly, off-handedly, into the teen's ear.

But Ichigo wasn't fooled. He could practically feel the worry in that warbled voice and a true wanting for the honest answer to the question. And that worried him more. "Yeah."

Baffled, surprised he was so easily read, Shirōgetsu made a small scoff. "…I was…jokin'…" he muttered faintly, more to himself than Ichigo. He wasn't convincing anyone.

Shaking his head, Ichigo sighed at his antics and decided to play along. "I know."

This response only caused Shirōgetsu to realize there really was no fooling him. He chuckled softly, another look of serenity and contentment passing over his face as he closed his eyes. "Y'know me too well, aibou," he whispered softly. Releasing his arms from around him, he sighed briefly and opened his eyes. "See ya."

Closing his eyes again, Ichigo made a small, sad smile. "You, too, Shirōgetsu…Zangetsu."